title: Cat-scratch disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the systemic and ocular manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of Bartonella infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bartonella are facultative intracellular Gram-negative rods that infect the erythrocytes or endothelial cells and are related to cat scratch disease (CSD). Bartonella henselae infection has localized or systemic features; the ocular diseases related to Bartonella affect 5--10% of patients with CSD. The diagnosis is based on clinical findings and laboratory tests. The indication of antibiotic therapy depends on the manifestation of the Bartonella infection, the host immunity and the patient's age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians should look for Bartonella henselae in cases of follicular conjuntivitis and regional limphadenopathy, neuroretinitis or retinal infiltrates; currently, serological tests can confirm the clinical suspicion of this infection.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Biancardi
authors.forename: Andre Luiz Land
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Curi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001706:Biopsy; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial